TRIPS transition period extensions for least-developed countries

UNAIDS and UNDP have launched a new Issue Brief TRIPS transition period extensions for least-developed countries.

In backing the proposal to allow least-developed countries to maintain and scale up access to essential medicines, the agencies say failure to extend the transition period for least-developed countries to become fully compliant with the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights, or TRIPS as it is called, could seriously impede access to lifesaving antiretroviral treatment and other essential medicines for people most in need and put millions of lives at risk.

In the Issue Brief, UNAIDS and UNDP urge the World Trade Organization members to give urgent consideration to the continued special needs and requirements of LDCs in respect of their social and economic development.

Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS said "An extension would allow the world's poorest nations to ensure sustained access to medicines, build up viable technology bases and manufacture or import the medicines they need".

A joint press release from the agencies says Least-developed countries (LDCs) are home to some of the world's most vulnerable people and bear considerable health burdens.

In 2011, some 9.7 million of the 34 million people living with HIV worldwide lived in LDCs.

UNDP Administrator Helen Clark says "Access to affordable HIV treatment and other essential medicines is vital if least-developed countries are to achieve the health-related and other Millennium Development Goals".